A superlative is the form of an adjective or adverb that’s used to show that someone or something has the extreme or unsurpassed level of a particular quality – more than anyone or anything else.

We use superlatives when we’re comparing more than two items, people, and places etc. We use the comparative form when comparing two.

Superlatives are usually formed by adding the suffix ‘-est’ (e.g. fastest) or the word ‘most’ (e.g. most delicious).

Never use ‘most’ and ‘–est’ together – e.g. ‘most hungriest’, ‘most funniest’ and ‘most kindest’ 🙂

Example sentences using superlatives

The coldest place on earth is in Antarctica.

The Sahara desert and the Gobi desert are two of the hottest places on earth.

That was the easiest English exam ever!

My grandmother is the wisest person I know.

What’s the saddest movie you’ve ever watched?

She was the most attractive woman in the room.

Delhi is one of the most crowded cities in the world.

100 English superlatives

1. the best
2. the biggest
3. the bluest
4. the bravest
5. the busiest
6. the cleverest
7. the coldest
8. the driest
9. the easiest
10. the fastest
11. the fattest
12. the funniest
13. the gentlest
14. the happiest
15. the healthiest
16. the highest
17. the hottest
18. the kindest
19. the largest
20. the latest
21. the longest
22. the loudest
23. the luckiest
24. the meanest
25. the nicest
26. the oldest
27. the prettiest
28. the quickest
29. the quietest
30. the richest
31. the saddest
32. the safest
33. the shortest
34. the simplest
35. the smallest
36. the smartest
37. the strangest
38. the strongest
39. the tallest
40. the thinnest
41. the weakest
42. the wettest
43. the wisest
44. the worst
45. the youngest
46. the most admirable
47. the most athletic
48. the most attractive
49. the most amusing
50. the most awesome
51. the most beautiful
52. the most boring
53. the most careful
54. the most caring
55. the most charming
56. the most clever
57. the most comfortable
58. the most complicated
59. the most crowded
60. the most daring
61. the most dependable
62. the most difficult
63. the most economical
64. the most efficient
65. the most embarrassing
66. the most exciting
67. the most expensive
68. the most extraordinary
69. the most extroverted
70. the most famous
71. the most forgetful
72. the most fragrant
73. the most funny
74. the most generous
75. the most gentle
76. the most graceful
77. the most grateful
78. the most important
79. the most inspirational
80. the most intelligent
81. the most interesting
82. the most introverted
83. the most irritating
84. the most modern
85. the most musical
86. the most organized
87. the most original
88. the most peaceful
89. the most photogenic
90. the most pleasant
91. the most popular
92. the most talented
93. the most talkative
94. the most thoughtful
95. the most trustworthy
96. the most unforgettable
97. the most valuable

Examples of irregular superlatives

98. good – the best
99. bad – the worst
100. far – the farthest/furthest

Everything by Alanis Morissette – listen out for the superlatives she uses in her song (some of them are in the extracts below the video)

Extracts:

I am the wisest woman you’ve ever met.
I am the kindest soul with whom you’ve connected.
I have the bravest heart that you’ve ever seen
And you’ve never met anyone
Who’s as positive as I am sometimes.

I’m the funniest woman that you’ve ever known
I’m the dullest woman that you’ve ever known
I’m the most gorgeous woman that you’ve ever known
And you’ve never met anyone
Who is as everything as I am sometimes.